Sandstone Arch at Southern Nevada Park Collapses

A small but prominent sandstone arch at a state park in southern Nevada has collapsed.

Rangers at Valley of Fire State Park say it appears Natural Arch was claimed by forces that will eventually destroy about 300 others in the park: gravity and erosion.

They say horseback riders reported the damage Wednesday, and there's no evidence of vandalism.

The arch was nearly 6 feet tall and 5 feet across. The collapse left piles of crumbled, powdery red remains on the northwest side of the arch.

About a decade ago, another arch in the park, Mosquito Rock, collapsed after a combination of wind and rain during a storm. Rangers say the same combination could have contributed to the collapse of Natural Arch.